Why Fish Lead Free | Angler’s Guide | Where to Buy | Tackle Disposal 

Anglers: Know The Law

New Hampshire State Law prohibits the sale and freshwater use of lead fishing sinkers and lead jigs weighing one ounce or less in New Hampshire. A “lead jig”means a weighted hook that weighs one ounce or less and is prohibited regardless of whether it is painted, coated, covered by some other substance or by attached skirts. 

 

Why Fish Lead Free?

Fishing lead free is better for our lakes and our wildlife.  Ingested lead fishing tackle is the leading cause of death for adult Common Loons, but also affects many other species of wildlife in New Hampshire.

 

Angler’s Guide to Lead-Free Fishing

Non-toxic tackle comes in many metal choices and modern metal alloys offer the angler a number of advantages:

• They are environmentally safe
• They have more sound producing qualities to call in those fish and up your catch
• Tungsten, is more dense and hard than lead, and allows the angler to “feel” the bait more effectively which in turns helps the angler feel the bite
• Any zinc-containing fishing tackle is not recommended because it is also toxic to wildlife

Where to Buy Lead-free Tackle in New Hampshire

Non-lead tackle is now available at retailers throughout the state. 

For a list of Online Retailers please click here. 

Fish Lead-Free Tackle Disposal/Collection Bins

• Loon Preservation Committee– 183 Lee’s Mill Road, Moultonborough, NH 03254; (603) 476-LOON (5666)
• New Hampshire Fish & Game Headquarters– 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301; (603) 271-3421
• NH Fish & Game Region 1 Office (North Country)- 629B Main Street, Lancaster NH 03584; (603) 788-3164
• NH Fish & Game Region 2 Office (Lakes Region)-   200 Main Street, New Hampton, NH 03256; (603) 744- 5470
• NH Fish & Game Region 3 Office (Southeast NH/Seacoast)- 225 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824; (603) 868-1095
• NH Fish & Game Region 4 Office (Southwest NH)- 15 Ash Brook Court, Keene, NH 03431; (603) 352-9669
• NH LAKES– 17 Chenell Drive, Suite One, Concord, NH 03301; (603) 226-0299
• Squam Lakes Association– 534 US Route 3, Holderness, NH 03245; (603) 968-7336
• Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge– Route 16, North, Errol, NH 03579 (603) 482-3415

Transfer Stations:

• Alstead– Rte 12A, Alstead, NH 03602; (603) 835-2425
• Amherst– 260 New Hampshire 101, Amherst, NH 03031; (603) 673-5469
• Bennington– 200 North Bennington Road, Bennington, NH 03442; (603) 588-3407
• Bradford– Rte 114, Bradford, NH 03221; (603) 938-2526
• Dublin– 176 Cobb Meadow Road, Dublin, NH 03444; (603) 563-8557
• Fitzwilliam– 249 Route 12 N, Fitzwilliam, 03447
• Greenfield– 29 DPW Drive, Greenfield, NH 03047; (603) 547-8617
• Henniker– 1393 Weare Road (Rte 114), Henniker, NH 03242; (603) 428-7604
• Hillsborough– 44 Municipal Drive, Hillsborough, NH 03244; (603) 464-3877 x. 254
• Hinsdale– Northfield Road, Hinsdale, NH 03451; (603) 336-5718
• Hollis– 10 Rocky Pond Road, Hollis, NH 03049; (603) 465-3299
• Keene– 55 Old Summit Road, Keene, NH 03431; (603) 352-5739
• Milford– 76 N. River Road, Milford, NH 03055; (603) 673-8939
• Mont Vernon– 16 Weston Hill Road, Mont Vernon, NH 03057; (603) 672-0055
• New Boston– 412 Old Coach Road, New Boston, NH 03070 (603) 487-5000
• Newbury– 201 Old Post Road, Newbury, NH 03255; (603) 763-2289
• Peterborough– Scott Mitchell Road, Peterborough, NH 03458; (603) 924-8095
• Warner– 188 West Route 103, Warner, NH 03278; (603) 456-3303
• Weare– 225 Merrill Road, Weare, NH 03281; (603) 529-1650
• Westmoreland– 403 London Cross Road, Westmoreland, NH 03467; (603) 352-8518
• Wilton– 291 Gibbons Highway, Wilton, NH 03086 (603) 654-6150
• Winchester– 105 Forest Lake Road, Winchester, NH 03470; (603) 239-8136

 

For more information regarding lead-free fishing in New Hampshire, please visit NH Fish & Game’s website here or the Loon Preservation Committee’s website here.